Eligibility

Eligibility to live in residence is generally based on two things: academic credit load and age requirements. Meeting all eligibility requirements does not guarantee a residence offer.

Academic Credit Load Requirements

  • Undergraduate students must be and remain registered in Winter Session for a minimum of 18 credits of classroom-based or distance education courses—9 credits in each of Term 1 and Term 2.
  • Graduate students must have full-time status confirmed by the Faculty of Graduate Studies.

Additional Requirements

Year Round Residence

You must meet the age requirement by December 31 of the year you move into residence.
If you are currently living in Winter Session Residence, you are eligible for any shared unit type listed below—regardless of the minimum age requirement. For all other unit types, you must meet the age requirement.

Residence Minimum Age Additional Information
Marine Drive 19 years Must be 19+ to be eligible for a studio. There are designated graduate student floors.
Thunderbird 19 years Must be 19+ to be eligible for a studio or one-bedroom suite. Consideration for studio and one-bedroom suites is given first to graduate and 25+ students.
Iona House 19 years Must be 19+ to be eligible for a studio or one-bedroom suite.
Ponderosa Commons
(Arbutus, Maple, Spruce, Oak)		 19 years Must be 19+ to be eligible for a studio suite.
Brock Commons – Tallwood House 19 years Must be 19+ to be eligible for a studio suite.
Exchange 19 years Must be 19+ to be eligible for a studio or one-bedroom suite. Consideration for one-bedroom suites is given first to graduate and 25+ students.
Fraser Hall 19 years

Winter Session Residence

You must meet the age requirement by December 31 of the year you move into residence.
If you are currently living in Winter Session Residence, you are eligible for any shared unit type listed below—regardless of the minimum age requirement. For all other unit types, you must meet the age requirement.

Residence Minimum Age Additional Information
Totem Park, Place Vanier, Orchard Commons None 19+ are considered first for single rooms.
Ritsumeikan-UBC House 18 years Must be 19+ to be eligible for a one bedroom suite.
Walter Gage 19 years Must be 19+ to be eligible for a studio and and a one-bedroom suite in Walter Gage Apartments.
Ponderosa Commons Cedar House 19 years 19+ are considered first for studio suites.
Fairview Crescent 19 years* Must be 19+ to be eligible for a one bedroom suite.

*Based on availability, some students under 19 may be assigned to these residences.

Graduate Colleges

You must meet the age requirement by December 31 of the year you move into residence.

Residence Minimum Age Additional Requirements
St. John’s College 19 years Must be approved for SJC Membership.
Single residents eligible for single units.
Couples eligible for one bedroom units.
Postdoctoral fellows and visiting faculty eligible for large single units.
Green College 19 years Must be approved for a GC Resident Membership.
Single residents eligible for single units.
Couples and postdoctoral fellows eligible for studio units.

Student Family Residence

Residence Minimum Age Additional Requirements
Acadia Park None Reserved for couples and adults with one or more dependent children 18 years of age or younger.
Children must reside in Acadia Park for a minimum of ten months.
One adult resident must meet academic credit load requirement.

When a vacancy occurs, an offer will be made to the next person on the waitlist whose eligibility matches the size of the available unit according to these guidelines.

Children* One Bedroom One Bedroom + Den Two Bedroom Three Bedroom Four Bedroom
None Yes Yes No No No
One Yes** Yes Yes No No
Two No No Yes Yes No
Three No No No Yes Yes
More than three No No No No Yes

*”Children” refers to anyone who has not yet turned 19 years of age who resides full-time in the residential premises for at least ten months of any calendar year.
** For children up to the age of 12 months.

Summer Stay Through

Residence Minimum Age Additional Requirements
Fairview Crescent None Must have had a Residence Contract during the previous academic year. Summer course registration is not required.

Summer Residence

Students eligible for Summer Residence must belong to ONE of the following groups:

  • Group 1: UBC students who have lived in a residence managed by UBC Student Housing and Community Services during the 2020-2021 Winter Session.
  • Group 2: UBC students registered in summer credit courses (6 credits) or a graduate program.
  • Group 3: UBC students employed by a UBC department in a research capacity. Proof of employment is required. A copy of your appointment notice is sufficient.
  • Group 4: Full-time students from other universities who are performing research directed by a UBC department. Proof of UBC sponsorship and student status is required. Please attach proof of UBC employment or sponsorship, if applicable, and provide your student number on your residence application.
  • Group 5: Students who have been granted permission in writing from the Associate Director, Residence Admissions and Administration of Student Housing and Community Services.

First consideration for residence will be given to Groups 1 and 2. Applicants from other groups will be assigned based on availability. Application does not guarantee assignment.

Early Arrival

If you are arriving from outside of Canada, whether returning to campus or moving in for the first time, the Canadian Government requires you to quarantine (self-isolate) for 14 days and to self-monitor for symptoms. You cannot self-isolate in a shared unit in Upper Year residence or in a single room in First Year residence and must make a separate arrangement for this period. UBC Conferences and Accommodation (C&A) is offering a variety of self-isolation accommodation packages to any members of the UBC community who need to self-isolate after arriving in Canada.

Winter Session Residence

Early arrivals are typically not permitted. However, you may be eligible if you meet ALL of the following conditions:

  1. You have submitted your Winter Session Residence application and required payment prior to the indicated deadline and are awaiting confirmation of your assignment.
  2. You belong to one of the following pre-approved groups:
    • Students in early-starting academic programs.
    • Varsity athletes participating in early-starting team practices (as approved by Athletics and Recreation).
    • Aboriginal students of Canada attending a welcome/orientation event hosted by the First Nations House of Learning.
    • Students participating in Jump Start.

Year Round Residence

If you are interested in moving into your Year Round residence room earlier than your contract start date, please email yearround@housing.ubc.ca to inquire about availability.